Specific Phobia
Specific phobia refers to a discomfort, including a panic attack, due to an object or situation that interferes with daily routine, with employment (for example, missing out on a promotion because of a fear of flying), or with social life (for example, inability to go on a date to a crowded restaurant). If you have a phobia, you recognize that your reaction to the object or situation is unreasonable but are unable to control it. As a result, you may dread the object or situation, and try to avoid it.
Specific phobia may have its beginning in childhood, and is often brought on by a traumatic event; such as being bitten by a dog (leading to a dog phobia), almost being pushed off a high place (leading to fear of heights), and so forth. Fear of specific animals is the most common specific phobia. This condition can exist with panic disorder and agoraphobia.
Your physician may ask the following questions to diagnose your specific phobia …
1. Are you troubled by discomfort in social situations?
2. Are you fearful of places or situations where getting help or escape might be difficult, such as in a crowd, on a bridge, or alone in a high place?
3. Do you experience shortness of breath or a racing heart for no apparent reason?
4. Do you suffer from a persistent and unreasonable dis-comfort when flying, in a high place, around animals, or at the sight of blood or other objects or situations?
5. Are you unable to travel without a companion?
Robby, age thirty-five, suffered from a fear of being bitten by a large dog. As a youngster, he had witnessed his brother being bitten by a rabid rottweiler. As Robby got older, he almost forgot about his fear until a neighbor bought a large dog that barked at him one day when he was out for a walk. Robby started to sweat and feel dizzy. His heart raced and he couldn’t catch his breath. After that, he stopped taking walks and consulted his physician. Robby was diagnosed with specific phobia.
